“Young Master, Young Master.”
After Jiu Hui hung the lantern, Yu Li poked her head out from the bridge outside the village, wanting to talk to Jiu Hui but not daring to approach her.
“Yu Li?” Jiu Hui flew to Yu Li’s side. “Why are you here?”
“The Elders finally allowing you to leave the village with Young Master Zhi?” Yu Li glanced furtively toward the village entrance twice. Seeing that the Elders did not intend to stop Jiu Hui from speaking with her, she finally relaxed. “I remember that you and Young Master Zhi are going to the Jiutian Sect to attend the new Sect Master’s succession ceremony. I don’t know much about the cultivation world, but you should take this with you.”
Jiu Hui saw two golden-red scales in Yu Li’s hand. The scales were as big as a human ear, crystal clear, and very beautiful.
“It is said that our koi clan can bring good luck. These two scales were left to me by my great-great-grandmother.” Yu Li stuffed the scales into Jiu Hui’s hands. “I don’t know if they will be of any use, but it’s always good to have a lucky charm when you’re traveling.”
Jiu Hui didn’t refuse. She put the scales close to her body and invited Yu Li to the village for dinner.
Yu Li quickly shook her head in refusal and left in a hurry.
She was timid and shy by nature. Coming here to deliver the scales to the young master had already used up all her courage.
Watching Yu Li’s hasty departing figure, Jiu Hui walked back to Zhi You and handed him a piece of scale. “This is the travel gift Yu Li gave us. It’s for you.”
“Fish scales?” Zhi You exclaimed in admiration. “They’re beautiful.”
“These are koi scales, not ordinary fish scales.” Jiu Hui patted her chest. “Do you know how many little yaos in the entire yao clan want to obtain the blessing scales of the koi clan?”
Zhi You carefully put away the koi scale and said after a long while, “It’s really good.”
“What?“carpreads.pages.dev
“It’s so nice to be with my little Senior Sister.” Zhi You’s eyebrows and eyes were like jade, but his brows carried the joy of the mortal world.
“Tsk.” Jiu Hui extended her index finger and tapped his forehead. “Let’s go, continue hanging the lanterns.”
In the evening, the elders accompanied Zhi You and Jiu Hui for a lively New Year’s Eve dinner, after which Zhi You was inundated with gifts from them.
Rare medicinal herbs, spiritual treasures, jade, magical instruments, and elixirs from the cultivation world seemed to be placed in his hands as if they were worthless.
Finally, Aunt Jiao dressed him up from head to toe. He turned his head to look at Jiu Hui, and seeing her open her arms very naturally, he knew that this was a routine in Shanghuang Village.
“Not bad, Jiao’e’s craftsmanship has improved again.” Grandpa Long looked at the clothes on the two of them: “This material is also good, it’s more reliable for children to wear this kind of material when they go out.”
“Has the Hour of Zi* arrived yet?”
TN: 11pm-1am
“It’s here, it’s here.”
The elders were chattering away. When the hour of Zi arrived, countless fireworks suddenly burst forth in the sky.
The colorful fireworks bloomed, and Zhi You stared blankly at the sky, reluctant to blink for a long time.
“We heard that the mortal realm sets off fireworks on New Year’s Eve,” Grandpa Long asked, walking up to Zhi You with his hands clasped behind his back. “We don’t often do this, so I wonder if it’s different from the fireworks in the mortal realm?”
“So beautiful.” Zhi You blinked, his eyelids trembling slightly. “This is the most beautiful fireworks I’ve ever seen.”
“Then I can rest assured.” Grandpa Long laughed with satisfaction. “These past few days, your uncles and I have been making these things in the back mountain every day. Our faces have been blackened by the smoke.”
“Thank…”
Before Zhi You could even utter a word of thanks, Grandpa Long slapped him on the back. “Then take your time looking. Once you’re done, you and Jiu Hui can go to the Jiutian Sect while we go to sleep.”
Half an hour later, the fireworks were still going off. Aunt Jiao yawned and said, “How many fireworks did you make?”
“Didn’t you say the more the better?”
On a distant mountaintop, Kong Cangnan was looking towards the direction of Shanghuang Village while feeling the night breeze. His handsome face revealed a hint of disappointment.
The wind rustled through the treetops, creating a soft, whispering sound.
He sat for a long time, until the fireworks burned out, before slowly getting up and transforming into a beautiful peacock, spreading its wings and disappearing into the night.
The disciples of the Jiutian Sect worked day and night, and the guests came and went like water. Even in the middle of the night, the sect was as lively as day.
The various sects arrived one after another. By the time the sky was about to brighten, almost all the guests had arrived.
However, both the guests and the Jiutian Sect were still watching, because the people from the Qinglan School had not yet arrived.
The succession ceremony was scheduled for noon, symbolizing that the next sect master would be like the rising sun, impartial and fair.
“The succession ceremony will begin in three and a half hours. Why hasn’t the Qinglan School arrived yet?”
“What’s the hurry? Didn’t Yuzhen Sect just arrive?”
On the surface, the guests were elegant and spoke pleasantly, but who knew how many rounds of rumors about various sects they had discussed using sound transmission techniques.
After arriving at Jiutian Sect, Jin Qingqiu went to the guest house where the Wangshu Pavilion’s people were. He was a little disappointed to learn that Jiu Hui would not arrive until later. He had wanted to tell Miss Jiu Hui how popular the storybook had been in the Demon Realm recently.
“Hey, miss, be careful.” Jin Qingqiu reached out to steady a girl who almost fell as he walked back.
“Many thanks, Young Master Jin,” the girl thanked him before leaving in a hurry.
Jin Qingqiu watched the girl’s departing figure. The clothes she wore seemed to be the outer robe of a core disciple of the Wenxing School?
He toyed with the jade fan in his hand, chuckled softly, and turned to walk toward the main hall of the Jiutian Sect.
As the young master of the Yuzhen Sect, he had to at least pretend to be diligent.
“Pingling Yao, the head disciple of the Qinglan School, came to congratulate on behalf of the sect master.” When the sky was bright, the people from the Qinglan School finally arrived.
The Fourth Elder of the Jiutian Sect saw that the Qinglan School had only sent their sect’s head disciple and two core disciples, and the polite smile on his face almost disappeared.
Even the sect’s Elders didn’t come. The Qinglan School was unwilling to even pretend to be polite to the Jiutian Sect.
Pingling Yao handed the gift box to the Fourth Elder. “Congratulations to your sect’s Daoist friend Nan Feng on succeeding as the sect master. I hope that Daoist friend Nan Feng can lead the Jiutian Sect to follow the righteous path of the world and protect the peace of the world.”
After these words were spoken, the entire crowd fell silent for a moment.
The Qinglan School’s head disciple’s words were almost pointing at the Jiutian Sect, saying that Bu Ting’s actions were not righteous.
The Fourth Elder’s smile finally faltered. He handed the gift box from the Qinglan School to a disciple behind him and said flatly, “Our Jiutian Sect has been guarding the world for many years. Now that the new Sect Master has taken over, it will naturally continue to do so.”
“We have all seen what the Jiutian Sect has done for the world.” Pingling Yao seemed not to notice the Fourth Elder’s displeasure. “But when it comes to their actions…”
The Fourth Elder’s gaze turned fierce.
“No one is perfect, and a flaw does not overshadow the good.” Pingling Yao cupped her hands. “I think everyone can understand that.”
The crowd that pretended to be passing by: “…”
Why don’t you guys just fight it out?
“Wow, so many people.” A woman wearing a red dress with a jade-colored cloak fluttering behind her descended from the sky. The hair ornament on her temple swayed gently, as if a celestial being had descended.
Behind her was a handsome young man with a cold expression, who seemed reluctant to speak.
The tense atmosphere between the Jiutian Sect and the Qinglan School eased slightly due to the woman’s appearance.
“Junior pays respect to all Elders and Seniors.” Jiu Hui cupped her hands towards everyone. “I arrived late, please forgive me.”
“Little sister Jiu Hui.” The smile on Pingling Yao’s face became more sincere. “We parted ways last time, and I never thought we would meet again so soon.”
“I haven’t seen you in a few months, but your cultivation has improved again.” Jiu Hui took Pingling Yao’s hand and smiled at her.
Facing Jiu Hui, the Fourth Elder’s imposing manner softened. Although half a month had passed since the Sect Master had attacked the little girl from behind, and the incident had not spread, they were still in the wrong.
“Please come in, everyone.” The Fourth Elder swallowed the anger in his heart.
After catching up with Pingling Yao, Jiu Hui and Zhi You found the people from Wangshu Pavilion. They were hiding in a guest house, drinking tea and eating snacks.
“Master, why are you all in the courtyard and not going out?” Jiu Hui pulled Zhi You to sit down, reached out to grab the snack plate, and placed it between herself and Zhi You. “We traveled here in the middle of the night, and we haven’t even eaten breakfast yet.”
“What are we going out for?” Yu Jing poured a cup of tea for the two of them. “I’m afraid that the Jiutian Sect and the Qinglan School will start fighting and splatter me with blood.”
“Master truly predicted the future. If it weren’t for Zhi You and me, they might have really fought.” Jiu Hui took a sip of hot tea. “The succession ceremony will begin in an hour. Zhi You and I will go find Nan Feng later.”
Yu Jing knew that they were on good terms, so she nodded and then said, “Be careful. I’ve been watching Bu Ting’s recent actions… he’s lost his former demeanor.”
Hundreds of years ago, Bu Ting was a spirited and promising young man who attracted the attention of the entire cultivation world. Such a figure should not have resorted to harming a junior from behind.
Five hundred years had changed so much. Mountains and seas could be moved, let alone people’s hearts.
“Master, don’t worry.” Zhi You suddenly spoke up. “Jiu Hui and I won’t let anyone bully us, and we won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“Your master understands.” Yu Jing chuckled. “Don’t worry, our Wangshu Pavilion has been passed down for nearly three thousand years, and not everyone can bully us.”
“Everyone knows about the number one and two cultivators in the world, but no one knows about those who rank below them. But that doesn’t mean we’re incapable.” Yu Jing reached out and rubbed Jiu Hui’s head, then patted Zhi You’s shoulder. “Don’t worry.”
-—–
“Eldest Senior Brother, don’t worry. We’ll take care of the Immortal Venerable,” said several core disciples, seeing that Nan Feng’s face was not cheerful. They knew he was worried about the Sect Master Immortal Venerable. “The Palace Master of Changshou Palace said that the Immortal Venerable’s body is not in danger and that he only needs to rest.”
“I know.” Nan Feng looked at his reflection in the mirror, dressed in a brocade robe, but his worries did not subside.
The Sect Master of Wenxing Sect once said that the opportunity for Master to heal his wounds would come today, but now it was almost noon, and this opportunity had yet to arrive.
“Nan Feng.” Jiu Hui and Zhi You walked into the courtyard side by side. She looked at Nan Feng, who was dressed up, and complimented him, “Nan Feng, you look very dignified today.”
Upon seeing his two friends, Nan Feng’s face lit up with joy. “You’re finally here!”
“Sorry to keep you waiting. My family insisted on keeping Zhi You for the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner, so we were delayed.” Jiu Hui took out a gift box from her storage ring. “Congratulations on your succession as the sect master.”
“Wangshu Pavilion has already sent a gift…”
“That was a gift from the sect, this one is a gift between friends.” Jiu Hui pushed the gift box forward with a smile. “As the saying goes, good jade goes with a gentleman. Take a look at this jade, does it suit your fancy?”
Nan Feng opened the gift box and was stunned. This was not an ordinary piece of jade. It was clearly a top-grade protective magic treasure with countless protective formations carved into the jade base.
“This jade pendant was made by Zhi You and me together.” Jiu Hui smiled. “If you don’t like it, don’t tell us.”
“I like it very much, thank you all.” Nan Feng tied the jade pendant around his waist solemnly.
The core disciple who was helping Nan Feng put on his auspicious attire hesitated. The clothes and accessories on the Eldest Senior Brother’s body had been prepared in advance. Would it be inappropriate to suddenly change the jade at his waist to someone else’s?
He glanced at the Second Elder who remained silent in the room, not daring to speak.
“The two young friends’ weapon refining skills are truly ingenious.” The Second Elder thanked the two: “You have taken great pains.”
“The ceremony is quite complicated, so we won’t bother you any longer.” Jiu Hui returned a bow. “We’ll catch up after the succession ceremony.”
After Jiu Hui and Zhi You left, the Second Elder saw that Nan Feng had no intention of taking the jade pendant off his waist. After a moment of silence, he said, “You two young friends are truly gifted.”
At such a young age, they were able to refine such a rare and precious magic treasure. Even the ten major sects would have difficulty finding such outstanding disciples.
After leaving Nan Feng’s courtyard, Jiu Hui saw Bu Ting standing outside the courtyard gate.
Author’s Note
Little Garlic Chive: I’m still very generous to my friends.
Zhi You: So there would be a fireworks show in the world, specially set off for me.